States and Quasi-States: 2026

    Most of us know about the strong states of the world today, the countries and governments that have powerful militaries, financial or commodity strength that imbues them with powerful authority and influence.

    

    We know the big ones: China. United States. Nigeria. India. Russia. Germany. Brazil. Japan. Mexico.

    There are many small ones that we do not pay much attention to: Andorra, Malta, Vanuatu, Tuvalu.

    However, there are some states that are not even recognized by most of the world: Somaliland, Puntland, Baluchistan, Kurdistan. Nations, or peoples, without states.

    Note that many, or most of these quasi-states are Muslim. East Timor, a newer country that emerged in 2002, (not 2003, as a government interviewer tried to be brow beat me about not knowing), broke off from Muslim Indonesia. Is the religion or culture of Islam prone to separating from other states and governments?

    

    Quebec wants to be independent from Canada, at times. Some are ardent about it. Natives the world over have desires of more than autonomy, but fierce independence from their sovereign owners, if you will.

    What are the states and quasi-states that you know of?